For the sixth consecutive year at Illinois under Bret Bielema, Illinois will likely have a starting quarterback that they’ve acquired from the transfer portal when they open the 2026 season.
By Matt Stevens – IlliniGuys Football Writer/Analyst
January 4, 2026
(Cover photo courtesy East Carolina University Athletics)
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – For the sixth time since Bret Bielema took over the football program at the University of Illinois, a transfer quarterback from a Football Bowl Subdivision program has verbally committed to making the move to Champaign-Urbana.
Former East Carolina two-year starting quarterback Katin Houser officially signed a contract to play the 2026 season at Illinois on Sunday evening.
In the 2025 season, Houser started in all 12 regular games at East Carolina before opting out of his team’s bowl game days after announcing he’d be entering the transfer portal for the second time in his collegiate career. Houser had a completion percentage of 65.9 percent for 3,300 yards and 19 touchdowns with only six interceptions. On the ground, he had 181 rushing yards and nine rushing touchdowns in the best statistical season of his career.
Since Bielema took over the Illinois football operation in Dec. 2020, Illinois has